Container closure



May 28, 1929. E. L. LEINBACH CONTAINER GLOSURE vFiled Nov. 21, 1928 Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES EDTARDL.A LEINBACH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONTAINER cLosUnE.

Application led November 21, 1928. Serial No. 320,782.

This invention relates to improvements in container closures, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved .closure of this character which will be spring controlled so that after the same has been opened and then lreleased it will automatically assume a closing position, thereby insuring that none lof the contents of the container will be spilled out when the container is carried in a purse orpocket, or When the same is upset, and at the same time Will be adapted for free and ready manipulation by the finger of the hand of the'operator which grasps the container when it is desired to dispense the contents thereof.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention, and in which Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a portion of a container having a closure constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention applied thereto and with the closure in a closing position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the closure in an open position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the form of the invention shown in Figure 3.

e Referring more particularly to the drawing the numeral 10 designates generally a container which may be of any desired size and configuration and is provided with external 49 threads 11 encompassing the open end thereof.

A cap 12 formed of any suitable material is provided for the open end of the container and is shaped to form a threaded portion 13 adapted to engage the external threads 11 on the container.

The cap is provided with an opening 14 therethrough having a circumferential flange 15 encompassing the opening and projecting to one side of the cap.

This opening 14 may be of any desired size and configuration but is comparatively large with relation to the mouth of the container so as to permit the free passage of the contents of the container therethrough.

A closure 16 constructed of any suitable material is preferably provided with a depressed portion 17 adapted to tit Within the opening 14 when the closure is in the position shown in Figure l. The port-ion of the closure 16 which rests vupon the cap 12 is prefer-A ably of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the, adjacent portion of the cap so that when the container is grasped in the hand, the thumb of the hand may engage a portion of the periphery of the closure and tilt it to the position shown in Figure 2.

Secured to the closure preferably to the depressed portion 17 thereof, is a member 18 preferably in the form of a bolt or rivet which passes through the closure and is secured thereto in any desired or suitable manner. This member 18 may be. of any desired length and is provided on its free end With a head or shoulder 19. A coil spring 20 having any desired number of convolutions and arranged so as to decrease in diameter from one end to the other end of the spring, is provided for controlling the operation of the closure 16. The base of the spring encompassesthe fiange 15 on the cap 12 and rests against the inner side of the cap while the other Vend of the spring engages and rests against the shoulder 19 on the member 18, the member 18 passing through the convolutions of the spring 20.

The spring is of suiicient stress to normally hold the closure 16 in a closing position or in the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, and the convolutions of the spring 2() are so arranged that when the closure 16 is tilted as is shown in Figure 2, the contents of the' container 10 will pass between the convolutions so as to be discharged through the opening 14 in the cap. As soon as the closure 16 is released, it will immediately swing back to the position shown in full lines in Figure 1.

In the form of the invention shown inFigures 3 and 4 the closure 16 is provided with a finger engaging portion 21 which is deflected laterally with respect to the body of the closure and is adapted to extend along the side of the cap 12.

With this form of the invention and when the container 1() is grasped in the hand of CII the operator, the closure may be tilted to the position shown in Figure 3, by tlieengageinent of one of the lingers of the hand with the finger engaging portion 21.

lVith this improved construction it will be manifestv that the normal tendency ofthe.

spring 20 is to hold the closure in a closing position and in order to open the closure it is necessary to actuate the saine against the stress of the spring, with the result that when the container is carried in a pocket or in a purse all danger of the closure opening and of any of the contents of the container being spilled therefrom, will be obviated.

Vhile the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the con'ibinationand arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

lVliat is claimed as new is l. A Closure of the character described embodying a cap member having a discharge opening therethrough, a closure for said opening, a projection on the closure extending therefrom and into the container, and a spring encompassing said projection, one end of the spring engaging the said projection and the other end operating against said cap.

2. A closure of the character described embodying a cap member having a discharge opening therethrough, a' closure for said opening, a projection on the closure ein tending therefrom and into the container, and a conical spring encompassing said projection, the larger end of the spring operating against the under face of said cap and the smaller end operating upon the said projection.

3. A closure of the character described embodying a cap member having a discharge opening therethrough, a closure for said opening, said closure being separate from the cap, a spring Within the cap, and a shoulder on the closure within the cap, said spring being disposed between the inner face of said cap and said shoulder and operating upon both and tending normally to hold the closure in a closing position with respect to said opening.

4. A closure of the character described embodying a cap member having a discharge opening therethrough, a closure for said opening, said closure being separate from the cap, a spring within the cap, and a shoulder on the closure within the cap, said spring being disposed between the inner face of said cap and said shoulder and operating upon both and tending normally to hold the closure in a closing position with respect to said opening, a portion of said closure extending beyond the periphery of ksaid cap member to form a finger engaging portion whereby the closure may bc unseated against the stress of said spring.

5. Al closure of the character describedv embodying a cap member-having a discharge' opening therethrough, a closure for said opening, said closure being separate from said cap member, a coiled spring wit-h- 6. A closure of the character described embodying a ca) member having a discharge opening therethrough, av closure for said opening, said closure being separate from said cap member, a stem on the closure and projecting into the cap member, a shoulder on said stem, and a coiled spring encompassing said stem and disposed between said shoulder and said cap member and operating to normally hold said closure seated, the convolutions of said spring being arranged to permit the contents of the container to pass therebetween when said closure is unseated.

7. A closure of the character described embodying a cap member having a discharge opening therethrough, a closure for said opening, said closure being separate from said cap member, a stem on the closure.

and projecting into the cap member, a shoulder on said stem, and a conical coiled spring encompassing said stem and disposed between said shoulder and said cap member and operating to normally hold said closure seated, the apex of said cone operating against said shoulder and the base against the cap member, the convolutions of said spring being arranged to permit the contents of the container to pass therebetween when said closure is unseated.

8. A closure of'the character described embodying a cap member having a discharge opening therethrough, an inwardly projecting flange encompassing said opening, a closure separate from the cap member and having a portion shaped to fit within said opening, a stem on the closure and projecting into the cap member, a shoulder on said stem, and a spring within the cap member disposed between said shoulder and the inner face of the cap member and o erating upon both and tending normally to old the closure seated.

j 9. A closure of the character described embodying a cap member having a discharge opening therethrough, an inwardly projecting flange encompassing said opening, a closure separate from the cap member and having a portion shaped to fit'within said opening, a stem on the closure and projecting into the cap member, a shoulder on said stem, andv a spring Within the cap member disposed between said shoulder and the inner face of the cap member and operating upon both and tending normally to hold the closure seated, a portion of the yperiphery of the cap member extending beyoud the periphery of said cap member to form a finger engaging portion whereby the 10 closure may be unseated against the stress of said spring.

In testimony whereof I have signed m name to this specification, on this 19th day of November, A. D. 1928.

EDWARD L. LEINBACH 

